What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 204

#204

Intermission (1)

-Clatter, clatter…

“Giddy up!”

We passed through about four portals.

The reason we bothered to leave in the chilly dawn was that even after passing the last portal, we still had to travel south for over half a day to reach Baron Berang’s territory.

The territory was at the edge of the empire, and the road there wasn’t easy.

Benjamin kindly pointed out that without the ‘Ulliter’s Headdress,’ it would have taken at least a week.

“I’ve never ridden in a carriage like this before. It’s really amazing.”

Christel looked around and exclaimed. I agreed, letting the Divine Beasts down from my arms.

During the heatwave, when I was taken to Evelyn after suffering from heatstroke, I rode in an imperial carriage with cold preservation magic.

It was much larger than a typical carriage, with a bed and sofa inside—a premium air-conditioned vehicle.

The mode of transportation we’re using for this trip is the winter version of that. A luxury item that Emperor Frederick personally provided.

“It’s my first time too, Sir Sarnes. The Papal State is focused on saving money.”

“They’re stingy about everything. They save money, and they’re stingy with their judgment of people.”

Christel grumbled. Sir Johann chuckled softly.

Anyway, ‘warmth preservation magic’ was impressive.

Inside the car, there were two small beds and two sofas, so everyone had enough space to be comfortable.

Since the novel has a lot of fantasy elements, there were many convenient aspects, which was nice.

If I asked Marquis François D’Huem, would he invent air conditioners or heaters?

Then maybe I could live more comfortably next year.

…Yes, ‘next year,’ that is.

“Your Highness, I will prepare the refreshments.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Benjamin and Ganael opened a large basket and began to endlessly spread out snacks to eat along the way.

The Crown Prince had an indifferent expression, but his attendant, David, was clearly surprised.

“It feels like there’s more than usual.”

“Our chef, Laurent, is on vacation starting today. He made a lot before he left, saying he wanted to take care of us. We’re grateful.”

I didn’t miss the timing and boasted. Ganael quickly added.

“Laurent’s daughter is getting married, so the Prince gave her a wedding gift and paid for the round-trip portal fare. Oh, and he covered half of the wedding expenses too!”

“Ganael.”

I quickly stopped him.

The boy, as if proud of something, smirked and laid out a tablecloth, setting out fancy plates and silverware.

My neck felt hot, worried that it might seem like I deliberately brought up Laurent’s story.

It’s not a big deal.

-Squeak, squeak

“Oh, Demi, let’s eat fruit. This is a local specialty from the South.”

As if gazes were really gathering, I hurriedly peeled a tangerine for Demi.

Christel and Tete chuckled.

The number of people leaving for Baron Berang’s territory wasn’t large.

It would be more fun if we all went together, but it was difficult due to everyone’s circumstances.

Notably, Dame Elisabeth was absent.

While Ervé D’Huem, the captain of the Royal Guard, was protecting the Emperor as the chief of the Imperial Palace guard, she had to prepare for the founding ceremony of the Imperial Capital Defense Academy on the 19th.

Because Crown Prince Cedric would be attending as the Imperial representative.

She couldn’t accompany us this time because she was busy planning major routes, allocating manpower, and coordinating many aspects with the school.

Instead, several elite knights from the Royal Guard joined us.

With three paladins, what could possibly happen…

“Eva has been busy lately, but it’s a shame that Father Sant can’t go. It’s because his naturalization issue hasn’t been completely resolved.”

Christel said, cutting a large piece of pain d’épices [French spice bread]. I was thinking the same thing.

“Sir Johann, will the Father be alright?”

I placed a piece of the bread with sweet honey and ginger scent on everyone’s plate.

Meanwhile, Benjamin and David prepared hot drinks.

Sir Johann answered, arranging pear confit and a cheese platter.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. That family is originally famous for being fussy. But they’ll give up soon.”

“Hmm. I smell something big.”

The protagonist’s eyes narrowed. Again, we were on the same wavelength.

She looked back and forth between her teacher and the Crown Prince, who were sitting on the opposite sofa.

“Your Highness or Teacher, do you know something?”

“I have no obligation to tell you.”

The Crown Prince cut her off sharply. Christel pouted and bit into the bread.

Since what he said was true, I laughed it off.

It’s Sant’s family matter, so I should wait until he tells me himself.

-Clip-clop, clip-clop…

Anyway, the members of this southern trip were simple.

Christel, the Crown Prince, me, Sir Johann, Benjamin, Ganael, David, Dduk-sim, and the troublemakers.

The rest of the workforce was minimized, and only the Royal Guard was a bit numerous.

We enjoyed a road trip, chatting and laughing.

The Crown Prince didn’t talk much, but he seemed to be listening.

“As you know, His Highness the Crown Prince will depart first on the morning of the 18th. The Prince and the two of you are scheduled to return together on the 19th. His Highness has stated that he will leave most of the Royal Guard behind.”

David said, elegantly placing his teacup down. I widened my eyes.

“Wouldn’t it be better to take at least half of them?”

“Who is the one who brings accidents wherever he goes?”

The Crown Prince stared at me with a dignified gaze. I was momentarily taken aback.

Hey, that’s about you and your future bride. I’m relatively easy to push around because I’m easygoing…

It was sad to admit.

-Chirp, chirp

“Oh, there’s Dduk-sim’s friend over there. When it spreads its wings, it’ll be as big as Eva.”

In the end, I avoided the topic by playing with the wren tapping on the window with its beak.

The scenery outside the window became greener as time passed.

Seeing the broad leaves, I definitely felt like I was heading south.

The sunlight also lengthened in the afternoon, and occasionally rabbits or deer could be seen through the forest paths.

The troublemakers were sleeping soundly on the bed. They were the prettiest when they were sleeping.

Demi, who had diligently eaten boiled eggs and carbonated water, had a bulging belly all by herself.

-Neigh!

“Easy!”

We were in the car until dusk…

We stopped and rested in between, taking walks while enjoying the gentle breeze, but most of the time was spent traveling.

It felt like taking a highway bus to Grandma’s house during the holidays.

Only me and the three attendants took short naps on the bed.

Christel seemed like she was going to lie down too, but when Sir Johann said, ‘I’m fine. Cardinals don’t need long rests,’ she jumped up.

The Crown Prince glared at Sir Johann along with her.

That couple sometimes did incomprehensible things.

Anyway, I left them alone because it seemed like a good thing for them to have their own bond.

And in the meantime, our chatter produced great results. For example…

‘Gaga Bag.’

‘Yes?’

‘A bag made by Ganael, shortened to Gaga Bag.’

My bag was named by Christel,

‘That’s right, Prince. I heard you used your ultimate move back then!’

‘Yes?’

It was a bonus that I asked back like an idiot again.

‘When you were almost kidnapped by Madame Victoire. Sir Johann said he saw it from afar. He said a dolphin rose from the Prince’s holy ground.’

‘Ah, yes. I conceived it after seeing ether soaring from Her Highness Aurelia’s sanctuary. I can’t attack, but since the gold is bright, I thought it might be able to cause confusion if it looked plausible.’

‘I want to see it too. We need to give that technique a name.’

‘……’

‘Light-Hop. Light-Fry.’

It was shocking.

Somehow, the naming of the skill was postponed, and the naming show was finished by Sir Johann giving my white horse the name ‘Armgard.’

It was a fancy Venetian title.

If only that child likes it, I should call it Arm for short.

“Oh my, I forgot to bring the spicy sauerkraut. I wonder if it’s okay to go and soak it?”

Christel muttered as if she suddenly remembered.

She borrowed the name of a similar French dish when she spoke of ‘kimchi’ to the outside world, but I was the only one who knew that it meant kimchi [Korean fermented cabbage].

I couldn’t react because my cheeks were full of bichons au citron [lemon cookies].

However, I didn’t really have anything to say.

The kimchi made from early-season sun-dried cabbage that I had eaten before was so delicious that I wanted to ask for the recipe…

After learning that ‘Freeze, drop and give me twenty’ had left a deep impression on her, I didn’t want to ask first.

I felt like I would arouse unnecessary suspicion if I added anything to the Korean elements.

I even heard her real name the other day. Hmm…

Still, I want to eat kimchi.

Kimchi buckwheat crepes grilled golden brown, and kimchi stew with sliced pork belly.

“Ah! Come to think of it, can the Divine Beasts sprout sun-dried cabbage?”

Christel asked suddenly.

The Crown Prince, who had been silently staring at the darkness outside the window, turned his gaze to me.

I could also feel Sir Johann’s gaze. I swallowed the warm soy milk and answered.

“I experimented with that recently, but it didn’t work. Likewise, they couldn’t bloom purple tulips either.”

Then the Crown Prince frowned.

“…They can’t bloom purple tulips?”

“Yes.”

Is there a problem? You have a lot in your yard anyway.

When I tilted my head, he turned to the bed.

Peri, who met his orange eyes, licked his tongue.

“You,”

-Squeak!

As soon as the Crown Prince started to speak, the Divine Beast threw itself.

Then it clung to his neck and licked his cheeks and lips.

The man groaned softly. David and I burst into laughter at the unfamiliar sight.

Christel muttered, ‘Ah, I wish I had my phone.’ I agreed.

-Knock knock knock knock

At that moment, the coachman knocked on the car four times. It was a signal that we would arrive soon.

Our gazes quickly intertwined. Whoa!

“Wow, Prince. The houses here are colorful!”

“It’s like a dollhouse. It’ll be prettier during the day.”

“I heard there are houses by the river too.”

Ganael, Christel, and I hung on the window and said a word each.

I thought I heard the Crown Prince sighing from behind.

*

Werner Fenetian was satisfied. Therefore, all the underlings of the royal castle were satisfied.

“Good… very good.”

It was a voice as beautiful as pearls in a jade bowl.

The man sat cross-legged on a luxurious sofa, examining a secret letter that had flown in from the opposite side of the continent.

A gold-leafed gown flowed down over a rare monster fur carpet.

The quietly standing servants occasionally placed refreshments on his lips and massaged his feet.

The State Secretary had been living only in his own space since he was not invited to the King’s ‘dinner’ last time.

He did not show his face at most social events and minimized interaction with his eldest daughter.

No one had ever taught him this, but he knew it instinctively.

He had to be careful before planning something big.

“‘She blamed the innocent cat.’ A favorite phrase. He intends to pin the blame on some innocent family.”

“It’s a clever judgment.”

“Yes. Indeed, an experienced family is different. Doesn’t it mean that a bloodline that has betrayed is skilled?”

The man’s lips drew an alluring line.

Although there were no clear results yet, he liked the spy, a great aristocrat of Liester, very much.

He also wondered why he hadn’t thought of this method sooner.

Even when the Prince was in the Holy Nation, he couldn’t kill him properly, so it was naturally difficult to strike precisely in the Empire, where there was physical distance.

When Werner belatedly learned that the lowly paladin and his blood had slipped through his fingers, he deeply regretted his misjudgment.

So this was better.

Perhaps now, when they have grown fond of each other, is the most appropriate time.

Not to eliminate that filthy blood with his own hands…

“‘The tenth month, the nineteenth year.'”

He stretched out his beautiful fingers and stroked the last sentence.

At first glance, it seems to mean October, but the month that hides the ancient number ’10 (dĕcem)’ was December (decem’ber).

The nineteenth year meant the nineteenth day as it was.

December 19th.

“Welcome. If it’s Eliser’s birthday, the obituary may arrive.”

“……”

He uttered terrible words with an angelic face.

The young servants struggled not to make the sound of swallowing.

Werner turned his head and looked at the head of the servants.

“Prepare the poison. Just enough to ruin the body for a while.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Who will you use it on?”

The old servant received the words in a very familiar manner.

It was a calm voice that would remind anyone who heard it of a gift or letter to a friend.

However, in the answer of the superior that followed, cracks finally appeared on the face of the servant, who was as solid as an old tree.

“I will drink it.”

“……”

“I will consume it little by little from today, so let the word spread in the courtyard of Corneliser that my complexion is not good.”

A method of directly informing Eliser could not guarantee effectiveness.

But his eight-year-old little daughter would be different.

“Shouldn’t I put on makeup before the curtain rises?”

The chocolate-colored eyes of the State Secretary folded softly as if melting.

No one believed that was the man’s true form.